Listen Up: Daughtry doesn’t travel far on ‘Leave This Town’
There’s an old rule of thumb that says rock stars appeal mostly to guys and pop stars appeal mostly to girls. If that’s the case, where do you stick an act like Daughtry, a rock band whose records don’t get played on rock radio but whose 2006 debut has sold more, at 4.5 million copies, than almost any other rock album of the past three years?
Leave This Town (* * 1/2 out of four) ‘†the band’s second album and first recorded with drummer Joey Barnes, bassist Josh Paul and guitarists Josh Steely and Brian Craddock, all of whom signed on after singer Chris Daughtry finished cutting his debut ‘†does little to answer that question. In fact, it mostly muddies the waters.
Daughtry settles into new, more personal ‘Town’
Chris Daughtry didn’t realize he had vocal talent until he was in his early teens. “But I always had this dream of doing something big, ” he says. “And I knew that doing anything big would require me to leave the small town I grew up in.”
Hence Leave This Town, the title of his band Daughtry’s new album, out today. It’s the follow-up to his self-titled 2006 debut, which went five-times platinum.
American Idols Live tour hits Utah
Danny Gokey may have finished third on the recently completed eighth season of “American Idol.” He was voted off of the show in the next-to-last episode, leaving the flamboyant Adam Lambert and Kris Allen to battle it out for the title on the season finale.
So it might seem as if Gokey was never really a central part of the conversation about who would win this past season.
Had he beaten out Allen to reach the finals, Gokey thinks he might well be wearing the “Idol” crown.
More Idol Headlines after the JUMP…
Adam Lambert Dogged by Diva Claims on “American Idols Live!” Tour
Adam Lambert’s outrageous attitude is infuriating the other finalists on the “American Idols Live!” tour, a report from the National Enquirer claims. The sexy young singer rarely shows up for rehearsals, makes comments implying he’s better than the other “Idol” singers, and frequently gripes about his wardrobe and makeup, according to an insider cited by the magazine.
The diva claims continue to dog Adam, and the insider is willing to speak. ‘It’s so frustrating! The other ‘Idol’ finalists work their butts off for hours every day rehearsing for the tour, but Adam rarely shows up for practice, ‘ said the source.
This week’s American Idol airplay chart
This week’s American Idol airplay chart doesn’t have a lot of movement. In fact, the top eight spots are the same as on last week’s chart. The only debut in the top half of the chart comes from Jennifer Hudson, with her performance of Will You Be There from the Michael Jackson memorial service.
Way down in the bottom rungs of the chart, a handful of stations have begun toying with Kelly Clarkson’s Already Gone.
‘American Idols’ Live Tour 2009-video highlights, plus more Matt Giraud news
We’re only six shows into the “American Idols” Live Tour 2009, and already Kalamazoo’s Matt Giraud is distinguishing himself as a fan favorite among the “American Idol” Top 10 finalists who are on tour this summer.
The video highlights of Matt, Kris Allen, Adam Lambert, Danny Gokey, Allison Iraheta, Lil Rounds, Megan Joy, Anoop Desai, Scott MacIntyre and Michael Sarver have been fun to watch on YouTube.
Son Volt’s ‘American Central Dust’ new on CD
“Leave This Town” (19/RCA) is the second album by Daughtry, the band fronted by former “American Idol” favorite Chris Daughtry that carries his name and his unmistakable Neanderthal-chic scent. The 2006 Daughtry debut album was a robust celebration of stoicism, hardy even when tender. And Daughtry is often a tremendous singer, matching the triumphalist impulses of Jon Bon Jovi with the persistent tonal misery of Staind’s Aaron Lewis. In the late 1990s not only would Daughtry have been one of the era’s best-selling acts but also one of its most emotionally resonant.
A decade later Daughtry is an anachronism and plenty content with his blinders.
Daughtry: Bright Lights, Big ‘Town’
Back in the fall of ’06, when Chris Daughtry released his grunge-riffic debut, “Daughtry, ” most of the accompanying debate centered on whether the “American Idol” finalist would have any credibility as a rock singer. He didn’t, as it turns out, but he didn’t need it: “Daughtry, ” technically the product of a band for which Chris Daughtry serves as the singer, sold 4 million copies and birthed a follow-up, the far superior, marginally more rocking “Leave This Town.”
Album review: Daughtry’s ‘Leave This Town’
Daughtry_240_ To understand the sensibility Daughtry brings to hard rock, read the acknowledgments in the CD booklet for “Leave This Town.” Every member of the band put together by Chris Daughtry, the chart-topping former “American Idol” contestant, thanks his wife profusely — except for the drummer Joey Barnes, who expresses deep gratitude to a spouse he hasn’t yet met.
What happened to the stripper-worshiping hedonism of hair metal, or even the lonely, monkish pose those messy ’90s grunge rockers struck? Daughtry and his boys are marriage maniacs. That’s what gives this band its pioneering edge, despite the utter predictability of its music.
Daughtry keeps things comfortable
Leave This Town, online and in stores today, doesn’t stray far from the blustery blueprint set by 2006’s self-titled disc: heartache and a little hope, crashing guitars offset by intimate interludes. But it doesn’t necessarily signify a lack of growth. Rather, Daughtry is simply sharpening its sound, building on a sturdy, if safe, framework.
Jordin Sparks: Love/Love is A Battlefield
Whether it was her overly emotive performance or clear Pat Benatar riffs, I hated “Battlefield” the first time I heard Jordin Sparks it on “American Idol.” In the months since it has not only become one of the most played songs on my iPod, but also the track I most often hope comes on next.
Now, with only eight days to go until Jordin Sparks sophomore CD hits stores, she is on full court promotion press, culminating at the 2009 Arthur Ashe Kids Day on Aug. 29. The annual tennis and musical festival will see more celebs than ever before this year as Jordin is joined by Will Ferrell, Andy Roddick and Honor Society to help kick off the US Open.
VIDEO: Elliott Yamin sings ‘You Say’
Check out Elliott Yamin’s new video “You Say” from his “Fight for Love” album, which was released May 5. “You Say” was the first single off the record in Japan, where Yamin recently toured.
Please join us this Wednesday at noon PDT for a live chat with Elliott Yamin!
Kelly Clarkson is Letterman Lovely
Kelly Clarkson waves to fans and photographers before taping her performance on Late Show With David Letterman at the Ed Sullivan Theater on Monday (July 13) in New York City.
Celebrity Performer Duo Receives MDA Directors’ Awards
The Muscular Dystrophy Association has awarded its highest philanthropic achievement honor, the MDA Directors’ Award, to two entertainment industry celebrities.
Alison Sweeney and Ace Young were honored for their outstanding contributions to MDA’s battle against muscular dystrophy and related disease . The award recognizes philanthropic contributions in the areas of corporate and organizational sponsorship, media and entertainment industry support, and personal fundraising.
Exclusive Interview: Caitlin Kinney of So You Think You Can Dance
Last week I had the pleasure of sitting and chatting with Caitlin Kinney, the latest girl to be eliminated from So You Think You Can Dance.
From the moment she stepped on stage during try-outs, Caitlin made an impression on the judges and America with her expressive dance and explosive tumbling passes. After starting the season strong with a precise and passionate Bollywood routine, Caitlin and her partner Jason were plagued by the “dance hat of death.” The couple only danced one routine, their last, in their genre–though Caitlin proved week after week that she could dance just about whatever genre was thrown at her.
‘So You Think You Can Dance’: Final thoughts from Phillip Chbeeb and Caitlin Kinney
On Friday, the latest eliminated dancers from “So You Think You Can Dance, ” Phillip Chbeeb and Caitlin Kinney, chatted on a conference call with journalists about their experiences on the show and more. Here are a few excerpts:
